Secretary Salazar Affirms Decision to Delist Gray Wolves in Western Great Lakes, Portion of Northern Rockies
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Category: WildlifeType: News
Source: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Date: Friday, March 6th, 2009
For Immediate Release: March 6, 2009
Contact:
Hugh Vickery, (202) 501-4633
(FWS Northern Rocky Mtns)
Ed Bangs 406-449-5225, x204
Sharon Rose 303-236-4580
(FWS Western Great Lakes)
Laura Ragan 612- 713-5157
Georgia Parham 812-334-4261, x203
Secretary Salazar Affirms Decision to Delist Gray Wolves
in Western Great Lakes, Portion of Northern Rockies
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar today affirmed the decision by the U.S.F.W.S. to remove gray wolves from the list of threatened and endangered species in the western Great Lakes and the Northern Rocky Mountain states of Idaho and Montana and parts of Washington, Oregon and Utah. Wolves will remain a protected species in Wyoming.
"The recovery of the gray wolf throughout significant portions of its historic range is one of the great success stories of the Endangered Species Act," Salazar said. "When it was listed as endangered in 1974, the wolf had almost disappeared from the continental United States. Today, we have in excess of 5,500 wolves, including in excess of 1,600 in the Rockies."
"The successful recovery of this species is a stunning example of how the Act can work to keep imperiled animals from sliding into extinction," he said. "The recovery of the wolf has not been the work of the federal government alone. It has been a long and active partnership including states, tribes, landowners, academic researchers, sportsmen and other conservation groups, the Canadian government and many other partners."
The U.S.F.W.S. originally announced the decision to delist the wolf in January, but the new administration decided to review the decision as part of an overall regulatory review when it came into office. The Service will now send the delisting regulation to the Federal Register for publication.
The Service decided to delist the wolf in Idaho and Montana because they have approved state wolf management projects in place that will ensure the conservation of the species in the future.
At the same time, the Service determined wolves in Wyoming would still be listed under the Act because Wyoming's current state law and wolf management project are not sufficient to conserve its portion of northern Rocky Mountain wolf population.
Gray wolves were previously listed as endangered in the lower 48 states, except in Minnesota where they were listed as threatened. The Service oversees 3 separate recovery programs for the gray wolf; each has its own recovery project and recovery goals based on the unique characteristics of wolf populations in each geographic area.
Wolves in other parts of the 48 states, including the Southwest wolf population, remain endangered and are not affected by the actions taken today.
The mission of the U.S.F.W.S. is working with others to conserve, protect and enhance fish, wildlife, plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. We are both a leader and trusted partner in fish and wildlife conservation, known for our scientific excellence, stewardship of lands and natural resources, dedicated professionals and commitment to public service. For more information on our work and the people who make it happen, visit http://www.fws.gov
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